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Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic FX90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 102 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched August 2011
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Replacement is Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the FX90 (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the FX90 (1/2.3") and K-1 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor size.

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The FX90 was introduced 5 years prior to the K-1 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FX90 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the FX90 scores vs the K-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FX90 over the Pentax K-1

 FX90 K-1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic FX90

 K-1 FX90 
LaunchedFebruary 2016August 2011Newer by 54 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FX90 and Pentax K-1

 FX90 K-1 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic FX90 provides outer dimensions of 102mm x 56mm x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has specifications of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") along with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the FX90 versus the K-1.

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the FX90 and K-1 is 95 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FX90 and K-1.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FX90 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-1 will provide more detail using its extra 24 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged FX90 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FX90 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Portrait photography camera
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
85
manual focus
MP count high (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FX90 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Street photography highlights
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
very good ISO range (204,800)
heavier than competition in class (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FX90 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Sports photography camera
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 fps)
bad battery (760 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FX90 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-1 Travel photography advice
60
has focus by touch
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (200 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
53
weather sealing
MP count high (36MP)
bad battery (760 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (1,010g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FX90 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography advice
36
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
81
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
bad battery (760 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FX90 Vlogging features
Pentax K-1 Vlogging features
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (1,010g)
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Panasonic FX90 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FX90 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 Pentax K-1
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-08-26 2016-02-17
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 6400 204800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.5-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.90 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 149g (0.33 lbs) 1010g (2.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 56 x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 96
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 3280
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 760 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots One 2
Retail price $227 $1,499